The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Ride-hailing platform YEGO Mobility has expanded into Kenya’s boda boda sector, onboarding more than 4,000 electric motorcycle riders in Nairobi as it moves beyond its existing taxi services.
The company, which first launched its taxi and corporate mobility services in Kenya in 2022, said its new boda service will offer metered fares — a feature it says sets it apart from other ride-hailing platforms such as Bolt. The service is expected to roll out in Nairobi in the coming days, giving passengers the choice to either book a boda in advance through the YEGO app or request the nearest available rider on demand.
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Karanvir Singh, CEO of YEGO Mobility Kenya, said the company is now extending the technology and operating model it has already proven through its taxi and corporate mobility services into Nairobi’s boda sector.
YEGO emphasized that passenger safety remains central to its operations, requiring every rider to complete a verification and onboarding process before being activated on the platform. This process includes confirming riders’ identities, licences, motorcycle details, and other documentation mandated by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and Kenyan law. Only riders who clear this verification process will be allowed to offer rides through the platform.
One Nairobi passenger, Douglas N., said the flexibility of being able to either book ahead or hail the nearest rider, combined with metered fares and YEGO’s verification process, gave him greater confidence in using the service.
The company has also lowered its commission on trips activated through its “Slide to Start” feature to 10 percent, allowing riders to keep a larger portion of their earnings.
YEGO said its emphasis on electric motorcycles is aimed at helping riders cut operating costs while supporting Kenya’s broader shift toward cleaner transportation. Alok Srivastava, Director at YEGO Mobility Kenya, said that while electric motorcycles can meaningfully reduce riders’ operating costs and advance Kenya’s transition to cleaner mobility, simply putting motorcycles on the road isn’t enough — riders also need consistent access to passengers, dependable technology, efficient payment systems, and day-to-day operational support.
He noted that YEGO aims to bring all these elements together, starting with electric bodas in Nairobi before expanding to serve Kenya’s estimated 2.7 million boda riders nationwide.
